THE ROLE OF Tc-99m MIBI SPECT IN THE EVALUATION OF NON-SMALL CELL LUNG TUMORS

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the role of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy in the diagnosis and evaluation of non-small cell lung cancers and also to evaluate the use of MIBI scintigraphy and MDP bone scintigraphy together in the detection of metastases. Methods: For this purpose, 30 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 15 patients with benign lesions other than lung cancer (as a control group) were included in the study. By applying Tc-99m MIBI and Tc99m MDP scintigraphy to whole patients with benign and malign lung lesions, anterior-posterior planar and SPECT MIBI images were obtained. Bone scintigraphy was performed as whole-body images. Scintigraphic findings were compared with the histopathological diagnosis of patients. Data were analyzed statistically.Results: According to the result of the findings, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rate of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy in the detection of non-small cell lung tumors were determined as 87%, 93.5%, 96%, 77.7%, and 88.8%, respectively. Scintigraphic findings were evaluated quantitatively and visually. While there was no statistically significant difference between the early uptake rates of non-small cell lung tumors and benign lesions in the quantitative evaluation using planar MIBI images, late Tc-99m MIBI uptake rates were significantly higher in lesions with non-small cell lung tumors than that of benign lesions. However, it was detected that both the early and late uptake ratios were significantly higher in malign lesions than in benign lesions in the quantitative evaluation of SPECT images. It was observed that MIBI washout in benign lesions was higher than in malignant lesions in visual washout analysis. Additionally, multiple bone metastases were observed in 14 patients on the visual evaluation of bone scan of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Tc-99m MDP uptake was not observed in the malignant lung lesion region or in the soft tissue except the lesion. Conclusion: In light of the findings, it was concluded that Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy is a noninvasive method with high sensitivity and specificity that can be used to differentiate non-small cell lung tumors from benign lesions

Prominent response with helical tomotherapy in recurrent ameloblastic carcinoma of maxillary sinus: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Ameloblastoma is a benign but locally aggressive tumor of odontogenic epithelial tissue. Reports of radiotherapy treatment modalities are limited in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A thirty-five year old male presented with complaints of headache radiating to his face for about six months and impaired vision. The patient’s Positron Emission Tomography (PET) showed a mass in the left maxillary sinus extending to the nasal cavity and invading the adjacent tissues. An R2 (macroscopic residual tumor) surgical resection performed to debulk the tumor. Due to the recurrence and residual mass, the patient was treated with helical tomotherapy. At 2 months post-radiotherapy, patient’s vision returned to normal. PET scan showed a significant reduction in lesion size 12 months post-radiation. CONCLUSION: In cases of ameloblastic carcinoma with, post-surgical recurrence or patients not suitable for surgical treatment, helical tomotherapy can be an effective treatment option

Obstrüktif uyku apnesi tan›s›nda periferik arteriyel tonometrinin de¤erlendirilmesi

Objective:Peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) as a portable method of monitoring sleep quality is a relatively recent innovation. The aim was to compare the results of PAT and polysomnography (PSG) and to evaluate the role of PAT in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: This study included adult patients who admitted to ENT clinic with OSAS complaints (excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, and witnessed apnea), undergone sleep monitorization using PAT system (WatchPAT 200TM; Itamar Medical Ltd., Caesarea, Israel) and had single-blind, level 1 polysomnography at sleep laboratory of Chest Diseases Department. Results: For the two sleep monitoring sessions as conducted at different times: the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) values were strongly correlated between sessions (r=0.749, r=0.753; p<0.001). The oxygen desaturation index (ODI) values were very strongly correlated (r=0.861; p<0.001). When the AHI scores calculated using PAT for the patients enrolled in the trial were taken into consideration; 89.7% of the patients were correctly diagnosed with OSAS (AHI?5); for RDI calculated (RDI?5) using PAT, 100% of OSAS diagnoses were correct; for AHI values calculated with the PAT method, taking 15 as cut-off point, the sensitivity was found to be at an extremely high level of 96.1%. Conclusion: PAT and PSG values were highly correlated. This finding demonstrated that the reproducibility of the results obtained with PAT was also high. This study shows that PAT can be used as a screening test for OSAS and in a group of patients who are highly suspected for OSAS.Amaç: Periferik arteriyel tonometrinin (PAT), uyku monitörizasyonunda ta?›nabilir bir yöntem olarak kullan›m› k›smen yeni bir yöntemdir. Bu çal›?mada, PAT sonuçlar› ile polisomnografi (PSG) sonuçlar›n›n kar?›la?t›r›lmas› ve obstrüktif uyku apnesi sendromu tan›s›nda PAT’›n rolününün de¤erlendirilmesi amaçland›. Yöntem: Bu çal›?maya KBB klini¤ine OSAS ?ikayetleri (gündüz uykululuk hali, horlama ve tan›kl› apne) ile ba?vurmu? ve uyku monitörizasyonu PAT sistemi (WatchPAT 200TM; Itamar Medical Ltd., Caesarea, ‹srail) ile yap›lm›?, daha sonra Gö¤üs Hastal›klar› Uyku Laboratuvar›nda kör olarak level 1 polisomnografi uygulanm›? eri?kin hastalar dahil edildi. Bulgular: ‹ki farkl› zamanda yap›lm›? uyku monitörizasyonunda apne hipopne indeksi (AHI) ve solunum bozuklu¤u indeksi (RDI) de¤erleri yüksek oranda korele idi (r=0.749, r=0.753; p<0.001). Oksijen desatürasyon indeksi (ODI) de¤eri ise çok yüksek oranda korele saptand› (r=0.861; p<0.001). Çal›?maya dahil edilen hastalar›n AHI skorlar› PAT yöntemiyle ölçüldü¤ünde; hastalar›n %89.7’si OSAS için (AHI?5) do¤ru tan› ald›; PAT testinde, RDI’ye göre yap›lan de¤erlendirmede (RDI?5) OSAS tan›lar›n›n %100’ü do¤ru idi; PAT yöntemiyle yap›lan ölçümde AHI de¤eri için e?ik de¤eri 15 olarak kabul edildi¤inde, duyarl›l›k %96.1 olarak oldukça yüksek bulundu. Sonuç: PAT ve PSG de¤erleri yüksek oranda korele idi. Bu durum PAT ile elde edilen sonuçlar›n tekrarlanabilirli¤inin de yüksek oldu¤unu göstermi?tir. Çal›?mam›z PAT’›n OSAS’da tarama testi olarak ve yüksek oranda OSAS ?üphesi olan hasta grubunda kullan›labilece¤ini göstermektedir

The evaluation of eustachian tube paratubal structures using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with nasal obstruction

Amaç: Bu çalışmada tek taraflı nazal tıkanıklığı olan hastaların östaki tüpü paratubal yapıları manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MRG) yöntemi ile değerlendirildi. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Ocak 2018 - Aralık 2020 tarihleri arasında kliniğimizde tek taraflı burun kitlesi tanısı ile izlenen ve MRG tetkiki ile değerlendirilen toplam 30 hasta (17 erkek, 13 kadın; ort. yaş: 56 yıl; dağılım, 18-67 yıl) çalışmaya dahil edildi. Çekilen MRG kesitlerinde, tensor veli palatini ve levator veli palatini kaslarının elde edilen en geniş kesit üzerinden kalınlığı, uzunluğu ve ortalama kas volümleri ölçülerek, sağlam taraf ölçümleri ile karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Hastaların nazal tıkanıklık olan tarafların ortalama tensor veli palatini kası kalınlığı, uzunluğu ve volümü sırasıyla 3.7±0.6 mm, 26.4±2.1 mm ve 2.1±0.5 cm³ idi. Ortalama levator veli palatini kası kalınlığı, uzunluğu ve volümü sırasıyla 5.7±0.5 mm, 23.9±2.3 mm ve 3.0±0.6 cm³ idi. Tıkanıklık olan ve olmayan tarafların paratubal yapıları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık izlenmedi (p>0.05). Sonuç: Bu çalışmada tek taraflı nazal tıkanıklığın östaki tüpü paratubal yapılarında anlamlı bir değişiklik yapmadığı görüldü. Ancak bu konuda daha uzun süreli ve geniş serili klinik çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the eustachian tube paratubal structures of patients with unilateral nasal obstruction using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients and Methods: Between January 2018 and December 2020, a total of 30 patients (17 males, 13 females; mean age: 56 years; range, 18 to 67 years) who were followed with a diagnosis of unilateral nasal mass in our clinic and evaluated by MRI were included in the study. The thickness, length, and mean muscle volumes of tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini muscles were measured from the largest section obtained from the MRI sections and compared with the healthy side measurements. Results: The mean tensor veli palatini muscle thickness, length, and volume of the patients with nasal obstruction were 3.7±0.6 mm, 26.4±2.1 mm, and 2.1±0.5 cm³, respectively. The mean levator veli palatini muscle thickness, length, and volume were 5.7±0.5 mm, 23.9±2.3 mm, and 3.0±0.6 cm³, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the paratubal structures of the sides with and without obstruction (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that unilateral nasal obstruction did not pose a significant change in the eustachian tube paratubal structures. However, further large-scale, longer-term clinical studies are needed on this subject

Concurrent Assay for Four Bacterial Species Including Alloiococcus Otitidis in Middle Ear, Nasopharynx and Tonsils of Children with Otitis Media with Effusion: A Preliminary Report

ObjectivesTo detect the prevalences of Alloiococcus otitidis, as well as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis in children with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and to simultaneously investigate the colonization of these bacteria in the nasopharynx and palatine tonsils of these patients.MethodsThe study included 34 pediatric patients with OME, and 15 controls without OME. In the study group, A. otitidis, H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and M. catarrhalis were investigated in the samples obtained from middle ear effusions (MEE), nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and tonsillar swabs (TS), using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional culture methods. Only the samples obtained from NPS and TS were studied with the same techniques in the control group.ResultsA. otitidis was isolated only in MEE and only with multiplex PCR method. A. otitidis, S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, H. influenzae were identified in 35%, 8.8%, 8.8%, and 2.9%, respectively, in 34 MEE. A. otitidis was not isolated in NPS or TS of the study and the control groups.ConclusionThe prevalence of A.otitidis is high in children with OME and A.otitidis doesn't colonize in the nasopharynx or tonsil

The effectiveness of concept teaching using concept maps on academic achievement and elimination of misconceptions: protein synthesis case

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of concept maps on the academic achievements of Biology teacher candidates and the elimination of misconceptions comparing the method with the traditional rote learning method. The quasi-experimental design, specifically, the pre- and post-test control group type was used in this research to address the research questions. The research was carried out with 60 Biology teacher candidates. Achievement test and diagnostic test were used as data collection tools throughout the research. SPSS version 20 software was used to analyze the obtained quantitative data. Independent samples t-test was used to determine, whether there was a significant difference between the control and experimental group students’ level of prior knowledge regarding the subject of protein synthesis. The findings revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups in pre-test (? > 0.05). However, the findings revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups, in the post-test, in favor of the concept map method used for the experiment group (? < 0.05). The increase in the post-test scores of the experiment group students indicated that the teaching method based on concept maps positively affected the students’ academic achievement and elimination of misconceptions. Research indicated that students could not establish a correct relationship between the concepts of DNA, RNA, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, nucleus, chromosome, gene, genetic code, codon, anticodon, translation, transcription, ribosome, protein, and amino acid terms taught in protein synthesis subject. It was concluded that the areas of use for concept maps should not be limited as a teaching tool, but should be further extended to for determining misconceptions, eliminating misconceptions, and evaluating the instruction. © 2021 International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE). All rights reserved

The Effectiveness of Concept Teaching Using Concept Maps on Academic Achievement and Elimination of Misconceptions: Protein Synthesis Case

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of concept maps on the academic achievements of Biology teacher candidates and the elimination of misconceptions comparing the method with the traditional rote learning method. The quasi-experimental design, specifically, the pre-test post-test control group type was used in this research to address the research questions. The research was carried out with 60 Biology teacher candidates. Achievement test and diagnostic test were used as data collection tools throughout the research. SPSS version 20 software was used to analyze the obtained quantitative data. Independent samples t-test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the control and experimental group students’ level of prior knowledge regarding the subject of protein synthesis. The findings revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups in pre-test (ρ &gt; .05). However, the findings revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups, in the post-test, in favor of the concept map method used for the experiment group (ρ &lt; .05). The increase in the post-test scores of the experiment group students indicated that the teaching method based on concept maps positively affected the students' academic achievement and elimination of misconceptions. Research indicated that students could not establish a correct relationship between the concepts of DNA, RNA, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, nucleus, chromosome, gene, genetic code, codon, anti-codon, translation, transcription, ribosome, protein, and amino acid terms taught in protein synthesis subject. It was concluded that the areas of use for concept maps should not be limited as a teaching tool, but should be further extended to for determining misconceptions, eliminating misconceptions, and evaluating the instruction.</jats:p